The title track peaked at number 7 on the US
Billboard R&B singles chart, while reaching number 22 on the
Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first hit. It also reached No. 20 on both the
UK Singles chart and the Canadian
RPM pop singles chart. The second single to be released, "I Feel Sanctified", reached number 12 on the US R&B chart, and concerns a man spiritually blessed by his girlfriend's love. The song has Ronald LaPread on bass guitar, Walter "Clyde" Orange on drums, while
Lionel Richie and William King contributed horn arrangements. The tune has an
a cappella introduction with three-way harmonization.
Record World said of it "Bangin' out with a
Salvation Army drum beat gone funk, the [Commodores] aim for a vocal bullseye." The song has been called a "prototype" for
Wild Cherry's 1976 hit "
Play That Funky Music". "I Feel Sanctified" was also later covered by that same group. "The Human Zoo" was a staple on the
Northern soul scene at
Blackpool Mecca and
Wigan Casino with dancers back flipping spinning and hand clapping to the beat. The drum break in the track "The Assembly Line" has been
sampled many times, mainly used in
hip-hop,
drum and bass, and
jungle music. ==Track listing==